Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 8:40 am Post subject: Welsh Springer Spaniels
I was just wondering if any one here had any info or personal knowledge of this breed? I have only ever met one and he was a smashing, calm dog but he may not have been typical of the breed.
Someone I know is looking for a "proper" mid sized (smaller than a Lab) dog but doesn't want "bonkers" and I was wondering if a WSS would fit the bill.
I have a feeling that their gene-pool might be quite small as they are a less common breed than the ESS. But I've no idea if that could be a problem or not or if their are any specific hereditary problems in the breed.
We had Bertie for 7 years, we got him from a rescue centre when he was 7 years old, his family had emigrated to Australia and left him behind He was a beautiful boy, very trainable and very placid, when Rachel was born he used to sit and watch her for hours
I know very little about the breed except for my experience with Bertie but he is very much missed.
Tried to put a photo on but my scanners not playing ball, I will try later
As you know I am a springer fan and belong to It's a Springthing if your friend goes and has a look she will see several of the members have Welsh Springers and a couple of them work them. She can peruse the site and see what she thinks. As it is free she could ask the general question as a post or i cn do it for you/her. Or she could look at this link.
My partner and I are wanting a WSS as dog number two, but have no personal experience of them. I know they are very hard to come by though.
I found this on a springer website:
The Welsh Springer and the English Springer are 2 separate breeds according to the Kennel Club, they were developed along similar lines originally but are now completely different, with different traits, health issues and looks.
The Welsh Springer Spaniel is a strong merry, active spaniel easily identified by its rich red and white coat and comparatively small ears. It is smaller than the show-bred English Springer. In 2000 The Kennel Club registered 424 Welsh Springer's and 12599 English Springer's. This shows why the Welsh Springer is not as well known as its cousin. One description I liked says "One way of describing the difference between a Welsh Springer and its English cousin is that the English Springer will work cover "for the sake of it", whilst the Welsh will only do so if there is something there! To translate this into what it means to live with a Welsh Springer, they have exceptional noses and will often find a morsel of food trapped somewhere, and stand in front of the location and bark until you rescue the lost item! They also love to see what is happening outside. This means that if they have access to a glass door, they will spend hours looking out of it. Otherwise they will either stand on their hind legs staring out of the window, or if the window sill is wide enough, they will sit on it!" The Welsh Springer is a stunning looking dog but as it is limited in numbers it can be harder to get a good puppy, you will need to be prepared to wait for a good Welshie puppy, breeders of Welsh Springer's are normally very particular who gets one of their pups, there are not that many litters available so they can afford to make sure that their puppies go to good homes that will appreciate the breed, this can also mean a long journey to a particular breeder.
The English Springer on the other hand is a fabulous all rounder with wide variation within the breed allowing you to selectively find your ideal companion. English Springer's love to find ways to please you and if you give them a task they will relish every minute of it, no matter if it is obedience, agility, fly ball, gundog trials, beating at a shoot or even heelwork to music. An English Springer will great you every day with a "what are we going to do today" enthusiasm, and problems arise when your answer is, stay at home in the kitchen for 8 hours while I go to work. If you walk an English Springer he will enjoy every minute of his walk, and as a consequence so will you, I have yet to finish a walk with my Springer's without having had a good laugh somewhere along the way. The English Springer loves to share its happiness with everybody it meets, and a well socialised dog will simply walk up to everybody expecting them to think he is wonderful.
Not sure it really tells you what you don't already know
Blimey only 400 odd pups born and breeders fussy about where they go (rightly so). I think we may as well scrub WSS off the list then, as these are first time dog owners, with youngish children and they live in France. I can't see many breeders wanting them on their list.
Oh well I'll have to think again, at least there is no rush.
This is a very timely post... one of the girls I work with is looking for a welsh springer spaniel. She had one before and talks about it like it was the easiest best dog in the world!
____________
All images posted by me on this or any other website remain copyright to me with all rights reserved
How about a flatcoat ? My aunt and uncle live in France and I believe they have a litter planned soon between two of their own dogs.
They have been breeding flatcoats for about 20 years now and working them but are both now retired and all their flatcoats are lovely pets. If they were interested I could pass their details on to my aunt. They live in Montbron. They have 2 children and the dogs have always been super good with them and just generally super dogs !!
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
He was a beautiful boy, very trainable and very placid, when Rachel was born he used to sit and watch her for hours 
